Saturday, September 29, 2018

Andrzej "Andy" Chmura passed away suddenly on
September 17, 2018. Born in Trani, Italy, of Polish descent, he grew up in
London, U.K. Predeceased by his parents, Waclawa and Tadeusz. A loving
stepfather, friend and "Grandy" to his family Stefan (Corinne), Nuan,
Hugo and Anna Simonyi. Missed by good friends Stephen and Cathy Ford and their
children. Remembered by his brother, Voy Chmura (Bogda) and their son Philip. A
camera operator since 1972, Andy worked on 116 feature films and numerous TV
productions. His true joy was racing his much-loved car "Ole Yeller"
around Mosport. A talented woodworker, he was endlessly generous with his
skills and expertise, often declaring, "I have just the right tool for
that!" A Celebration of Andy's Life will be held Friday, October 5th, at
11:30 a.m. at The Olde Stone Cottage Pub, 3750 Kingston Rd., Scarborough, ON.
Donations to Canadian Cancer Society appreciated.

Yvonne Suhor, who helped train countless local actors at
her Art’s Sake Film Acting Studio in Winter Park, died Thursday. She had been
diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 10 months ago, said her husband, actor Simon
Needham.

Suhor’s passing came as a surprise to many — she had not
wanted her illness to be known publicly, wrote her brother, Michael, as he paid
tribute to his sister online. Suhor, who worked in television, film and
theater, was 56.

“She was a vibrant, spirited soul who fiercely and
compassionately guided so many performers to elevate their craft on stage, on
screen, and as human beings,” actor Rob Ward wrote on Facebook. “I learned more
in one semester as her teacher’s assistant and student than in all my other
acting classes combined.”

Suhor was fondly remembered for her starring role for
three seasons on ABC’s “The Young Riders” — a 1989-92 Western about the Pony
Express. The large ensemble cast included Anthony Zerbe, Stephen Baldwin and
Josh Brolin. Suhor’s character, Lou, disguised herself as a man to join the
Pony Express riders and later shared a romance with The Kid, played by Ty
Miller.

She also recurred on the sitcom “Brooklyn Bridge” and
appeared on such popular TV shows as “Murder, She Wrote,” “Star Trek: Voyager”
and “Northern Exposure.” She will guest in an upcoming episode of “Lodge 49” on
AMC.

“She had a good career but set it aside to teach acting
to hundreds of aspiring actors over the years,” her brother wrote. “She had the
world before her and chose instead to share what she knew best so that she
could improve the skills of others with her guidance.”

Suhor opened Art’s Sake in 1997 and in an interview
described it as “a real hotbed of creativity with an amazing vein of love
energy.”

Actors at the studio, many in the Play de Luna program
for up-and-comers, were regulars at the Orlando Fringe Festival. Suhor herself
was often lauded in the productions. In 2002, Sentinel theater critic Elizabeth
Maupin praised her as “a gritty, compelling Denise, a brooding, antagonistic
woman flying by the seat of her pants.” She also won praise for her 2003 role
in the Fringe’s “How to Make Love to An Actor,” in which she starred opposite
Needham.

Suhon and Needham had met at the Orlando Fringe.

Born and raised in a large family in New Orleans, Suhor
had planned to become a teacher like her father, until a junior-college
instructor encouraged her to act, according to her biography. She stuck with
acting at Illinois State University, where she graduated with a degree in
acting and directing.

She later worked with the well-known Steppenwolf Theater
of Chicago, appearing in productions there such as its award-winning “The
Grapes of Wrath.” She also toured Australia with Steppenwolf, in a production
of “Lydie Breeze.” Suhon received a master of fine arts degree from the
University of California.

In announcing her death, Art’s Sake said she died
surrounded by family, friends and her cat, Jazzy. One of her last wishes was to
be remembered with a party, the announcement said. Details will come at a later
date.

On Facebook, friends paid tribute to her as a teacher and
friend.

“She literally altered my life,” wrote actor Ame
Livingson. “One of the first and, truly, best teachers of my life. You have
marked my heart and opened my eyes. Forever a Goddess of art and love.”

“She taught me a lot, not only about what it means to be
an actor, but what it means to be human,” wrote Cole NeSmith, an actor and
founder of the Creative City Project’s Immerse arts festival.

In interview with fans of “The Young Riders,” she talked
about her likes — crossword puzzles, modern dance, “Will & Grace” — and
shared a glimpse of her philosophy of life.

“I’ve learned not to take things so seriously,” she said.
“My spiritual views break down to how I deal with relationships: Give to self;
share with others. Play a part in humanity. Heal your inner child and help to
heal others. You can’t fix anyone, but you can be a role model. All the
adversity that one goes through was God’s gift, and there for a reason, so
embrace it.”

Friday, September 28, 2018

Roger Robinson, a talented star of the New York theater
scene whose four-decade Broadway career was capped by a Tony Award win for his
performance in an August Wilson classic, died on September 26 in Escondido, CA.
Robinson's death was confirmed by publicist Patty Onagan, who said the cause of
death was a complicated heart condition. Robinson was 78.

Born on May 2, 1940 in Seattle, Washington, Robinson made
his first off-Broadway appearance in Walk in Darkness (1963), later making his
Broadway debut beside Al Pacino in Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie? (1969). He was
seen again on Broadway shortly after in The Miser (1969), followed by later
turns in Amen Corner (1983) and The Iceman Cometh (1985).

Robinson earned his first Tony nomination for his
performance as Hedley in the Broadway-premiere production of Seven Guitars
(1996) by August Wilson, a playwright who would remain a constant in Robinson's
career.

In 2009, Lincoln Center Theater produced a new staging of
Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone, directed by Bartlett Sher and featuring
Robinson in the supporting role of Bynum Walker. The performance earned
Robinson a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play; he also became the
first African-American actor to win the Richard Seff Award, an honor presented
by Actors' Equity to a veteran character actor 50 years of age or older for an
exceptional performance. Over the course of his career, Robinson appeared in
six productions of the 10 plays in Wilson's century cycle, which charts the
African-American experience over each decade of the 20th century.

Robinson's additional stage credits include a Broadway
performance in Drowning Crow (2004) and off-Broadway turns in Who's Got His Own
(1966), The Trials of Brother Jero/The Strong Breed (1967), Do Lord Remember Me
(1984), Of Mice and Men (1987) and The Middle of Nowhere (1988). In 2013,
Robinson directed an off-Broadway production of Strawberry & Chocolate.

On-screen, Robinson earned an Independent Spirit Award
nomination for his acclaimed performance in Brother to Brother (2004). He was
also seen in a recurring turn as Mac Harkness in How to Get Away with Murder
(2016-2018).

In a backstage interview following his Tony win, Robinson
spoke with Broadway.com Editor-in-Chief Paul Wontorek about performing the work
of August Wilson: "It's like a symphony—every note, every word has to be
where August wrote it. It's precise. It calls for tremendous concentration, but
it's also fun. It's like a challenge; every night you step out there to do it
and hit those notes with everybody. It's a wonderful experience. I really am
happy that I am an actor."

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

She’s died Katyna Ranieri, widow of Riz Ortolani, the
only Italian who sang at the Oscars

The artist died at the age of 93, shortly after
celebrating her birthday with her family. She was the only Italian singer in
history to perform in an Oscar ceremony, interpreting the song 'More' from the
film 'Mondo cane', for which Ortolani received the statuette

Repubblica

September 3, 2018

The singer Katyna Ranieri, widow of the composer Riz
Ortolani, died in Rome on the night of 2 September. He had just turned 93 on
August 31, celebrating with her family on the day when she also celebrated her
wedding anniversary with Ortolani, who was born in Pesaro and died in 2014. She
leaves her daughter Rizia and her son Enrico. The funeral will be held
Wednesday, September 5 at 15.30 in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Montesano
(Church of the Artists) in Piazza del Popolo. The family invites the
participants to avoid wearing mourning clothes.

Katyna Ranieri and Riz Ortolani were companions in life
and art, in a loving and musical partnership. She, born in Follonica, finished
second in San Remo, had achieved success as a singer in the 1950s and 1960s
performing in the most exclusive stages of Italy, Latin America and the US,
then in the 1970s concerts with big orchestras directed by her husband and
tours in Italy, Japan, Austria, Germany, England, Korea.

She was the only Italian singer in the history of the
Academy Awards to perform at an Oscar ceremony, singing the song “More” (theme
of the film Mondo Cane ) for which Riz Ortolani received the Grammy award.
Among her most famous interpretations: “Oh my Love” (recently revived in the
movie Drive ); “Forget Tomorrow” from the movie The Yellow Rolls Royce; songs
from the Fratello Sole Sorella Luna soundtrack. Katyna Ranieri was also the
author of many lyrics of the songs composed by Riz Ortolani, hiding behind
pseudonyms like Benjamin, Mae Kroville and others.

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Frank Russell Parker passed away on Sunday, Sept. 16, at
the age of 79 in Vacaville, from complications of Parkinson's and dementia. He
was born July 1, 1939 in Darby, PA to Dorothy Ada Platner and Edward Wallace
Parker. He was raised in Lansdowne, PA by his mother and step father Maurice
Gordon. He spent many happy summers with his grandmother Mabel Green in upstate
New York. He earned his BA in Acting from Carnegie Tech in 1962 and moved to
Culver City. He married Nola Donelle Rajcok in 1981 and had three daughters,
Candace Donelle and fraternal twins Danielle Dallas and Lindsay Kyle. In 2005,
he married Mary Jean Dunning Garofalo and resided in Vacaville, until his
death. His acting career spanned many years. He was in numerous films and
television series throughout the 60's and 70's. He played roles on several soap
operas during the 80's, most notably as Grandpa Shawn Brady on Days of Our
Lives from 1983 until he retired in 2008. Frank was a people person; he touched
many lives and was loved by everyone. He could light up a room with his singing
voice and was known to burst into song at any moment. He was a ham and loved
the spotlight. Above all, he was the most supportive, generous, kind man and
father. Frank loved his family. He was preceded in death by his daughter,
Candi; mother-in-law, Dorothy Jean Wachsman Dunning, and former father-in-law,
Robert Rajcok. He is survived by his wife, Mary; daughters, Danielle (Matthew)
Buckles, Lindsay Parker (Travis Burbank) and their mother, Nola; his grandson,
Jaxson Dale; sisters-in-law, Jo Dunning, Patricia Dunning; brother-in-law, Bob
Dunning; former mother-in-law, Sharon Rajcok; sisters-in-law, Mary Rajcok, Andi
Jurich; brothers-in-law, Robert Rajcok, Dale Espina, Kevin Fox; also, numerous
nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. In loving memory of Frank, a rosary will
be held on Wednesday Sept. 26, at 7 p.m., at Saint Mary's Catholic Church, 350
Stinson Ave., Vacaville, CA 95688. Funeral service will be held in Los Angeles,
CA at a later date. In Frank's honor, donations may be made to the St. Vincent
de Paul Society at St. Mary's Catholic Church at the above address. "It's
never goodbye...it's always, 'I'll see ya later.'" Frank Parker.

About Me

Born in Toledo, Ohio in 1946 I have a BA degree in American History from Cal St. Northridge. I've been researching the American West and western films since the early 1980s and visiting filming sites in Spain and the U.S.A. Elected a member of the Spaghetti Western Hall of Fame 2010.